Numerous new horror films are released every year as filmmakers attempt to frighten viewers. And there is a tonne of different ways to accomplish it! There are countless subgenres within the horror genre, ranging from psychological horror to terrifying twists on true crime, to even the lengthy history of slasher movies and otherworldly tales. Regardless matter the source of the frights, one aspect of a terrifying movie will unquestionably stay in your memory.
It can be tough to unsee a horror film that leans heavily on gore. Too many horrific images from years of body horror, graphic on-screen murders, purported “torture porn,” and other truly awful examples of the genre have been lodged in our minds. Nevertheless, for some aficionados of horror films, this is the best scene.
In light of this, we searched through the canon of horror films to unearth the 30 most revolting examples. Enter with caution if you haven’t seen these flicks. There will be visuals that you won’t soon forget. But if you’re an expert, chances are you already know most or all of these. View the list of the 30 most gruesome horror films we could find below, and then share your picks in the comments.
Hostel (2005)
This Eli Roth creation is pretty much every traveler’s worst nightmare. In it, two American tourists are subjected to a string of horrifying tortures when they check into a hostel in Slovakia.
mother! (2017)
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what genre mother! fits under. The film’s cannibalistic conclusion, which finally pushes Jennifer Lawrence’s titular woman over the brink, is one of the most unsettling scenes ever captured on camera, so that much is certain.
Saw (2004)
Two men are the players. Stakes: Only one person makes it out alive. The twist: To survive, one must kill the other. You’ll quickly realize why Saw is one of the most notorious kidnap-and-torture movies to date if you add in a lot of torture.
The Thing (1982)
The recreation of 1951 original, which was the pinnacle of 80s horror, has also gained cult status. With its gore and slime, this story—which stars Kurt Russell in his prime and features extraterrestrial possession—might seem a little tacky to viewers of today. However, kudos to director John Carpenter for crafting a tale about a massive, virtually unstoppable parasite that is still a little frightening.
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
The gore in Rob Zombie’s first film as a director is exactly what one would anticipate from the leader of the band White Zombie. A character in the film is vivisected without being killed after being scalped, exposing his internal organs.
Raw (2017)
The gory nature of this French-Belgian horror story is about what you would anticipate from a movie about flesh-eating. As Justine, a previous vegetarian acquires an insatiable appetite for human flesh, your stomach will turn.
The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) (2011)
The most crucial components of the original Human Centipede should be multiplied by four. And you do. the populace within the centipede person. In fact: Ewwwwwwwwwwww. Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew.
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Wes Craven made this incredibly vile and horrible movie before he became famous for making A Nightmare on Elm Street, in which a gang of murderers and rapists torture two young women. Because of its extreme violence, it was outlawed in the UK until 2002, when particularly objectionable images were cut.
Strangeland (1998)
Dee Snider, who also plays the mentally unstable Captain Howdy in this horror film, wrote the script.
Teenage victims are attracted by the sadist and psychotic Howdy through chat groups. After a brief period of reformation following a spell in a facility, he quickly relapses and causes mayhem in a tiny village. It’s essentially the stuff of every parent’s worst fear.
The Woman (2011)
Every conceivable “ordinary family in the backwoods hiding a secret” horror cliché is present in this tale. These are followed by horrifying torture sequences that build to a slaughter that essentially decimates 75% of the movie’s characters.
Ironically, the guys in the movie are genuine monsters rather than the title character.
Evil Dead (2013)
There are some really unsettling scenes in this 2013 remake of a cult favorite, in which Ash is gender switched and replaced with a woman named Mia. One such scene is when Mia loses her hand and replaces it with a chainsaw.
The Lure (2015)
In this Polish horror musical, a real mermaid falls in love with a guy in what is essentially a deranged rendition of The Little Mermaid. She is then given the option of eating him or dying.
Antichrist (2009)
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe play a bereaved couple trying to mend their relationship after their kid dies in Lars von Trier’s contentious masterpiece, which contains one of the most gruesome and infamous self-mutilation scenes in movie history.
Naturally, they choose to do this at a cabin in the woods, and things immediately start to go horribly wrong.
Martyrs (2008)
Lucie, a victim of child abuse, embarks on a mission to exact revenge on her tormentors. She and her companion survivor Anna have to go through a house of horrors as part of the process.
Deadgirl (2008)
This macabre portrayal of adolescent hormones brings together an undead captive girl, an abandoned mental hospital, and two lazy high school lads. It’s equal parts coming-of-age story, zombie movie, and ewwwwwww.
One terrifying possibility as a result. It’s so gory that any attempt at black humor is buried in the gore that’s on display.
Event Horizon (1997)
This is the stuff of nightmares that comes to life, a classic in the science fiction horror subgenre. When the Lewis and Clark rescue team looks into what went wrong at the spacecraft Event Horizon, they find malicious sentience that drives people insane and causes terrifying hallucinations. Although this movie may not be as twisted and sick as some of the others on this list, the graphic torture scenes are nevertheless ingrained in our memories.
Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
The Skin I Live In (2011)
This psychological horror film by Pedro Almodóvar revolves around a plastic surgeon gone crazy, the woman stuck as his guinea pig, and the secrets behind their relationship. Antonio Banderas gives possibly his creepiest performance to date.
Audition (1999)
Nothing by Takashi Miike, and this is a doozy, would be complete on a list of dark and twisted horror films. The movie stars middle-aged widower Shigeharu, who discovers that love may be deadly the second time around. It is arguably the worst dating experience ever imagined in the history of mankind. Literally.
You’re Next (2011)
In this horror film, axe-wielding killers attack a family reunion; only those raised in a survivalist complex survive. Is anything coherent? No. A much of blood and gore? Yep.
Guinea Pig: Flower of Flesh and Blood (1985)
The FBI initiated an inquiry in 1991 to establish whether anyone was actually killed during production after seeing the second in a series of brutal Japanese horror films, Guinea Pig, which included scenes like mutilation.
I Spit On Your Grave (1978)
I Spit on Your Grave, regarded as one of the most divisive movies of all time, tells the tale of a woman who, after being gang raped, plans her violent retaliation against those who victimized her. It was once prohibited in a number of European nations, and Ireland is currently unable to purchase it.
Braindead (1992)
You just won’t forget the images in this Peter Jackson-directed film, which range from rabid animal attacks to skin being pulled off of faces.
Cabin Fever (2003)
This film, the debut of renowned horror director Eli Roth, centers on a flesh-eating virus and is full of unsettling images.
ABCs of Death (2013)
Each of the 26 short films in The ABCs of Death series is based on a different letter of the alphabet. From a man wrestling a dog for money to a small boy getting killed by a toilet, each is unpleasant in its own way.
Inside (2007)
Everything about this French horror movie feels horribly wrong, from the gruesome violence involving a pregnant lady to the unexpected Caesarean section it results in.
Ichi the Killer (2001)
The grotesque artwork in this manga translation, which features a scene where a guy is skewered and hanging by hooks, is very inventive.
Excision (2012)
The most unsettling scene in this film is when a disturbed youngster does an amateur operation.
The Green Inferno (2013)
Eli Roth’s homage to Cannibal Holocaust, which included sequences of cannibalism and suicide among other violent crimes, did not meet with the approval of critics.
Lifechanger (2018)
In order to survive, the body horror movie’s shape-shifting lead character must murder an increasing number of people before eventually adopting their memories and personalities.
